NEWCASTLE UNITED

When will Rafael Benitez be able to celebrate a first signing? The mood is turning on Tyneside because of the frustrations in the market, so they could do with a breakthrough soon.

It still seems likely that Eibar’s Florian Lejeune will be the first player to arrive because Newcastle have agreed to meet the £8.7m buy-out clause for the defender.

Yet that has been the case for a week or two now, so negotiations over personal terms seem to be the stumbling block.

Otherwise Newcastle have struggled to get their own deals done, and now they have been linked with yet another player.

This time Benitez apparently wants to bring in Benfica’s Argentine international Lisandro Lopez, who is a team-mate of another target Andreas Samaris.

It could be that Newcastle can strike a double deal for the pair, and that might not be a bad thing given how slow things have been moving on the transfer front.

But Lisandro has played four times for Argentina and has not been a regular in the Benfica side, which is why his name has been a surprise.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Garry Monk is yet to make his first successful move in the transfer market but there is growing interest in the players he has inherited.

Spanish full-back Antonio Barragan is the latest player to be linked with a move away from the Riverside, and it would be no surprise to see him go sooner rather than later.

The 30-year-old had his positive moments last season but then fell away after Steve Agnew took over. Real Betis are in negotiations with Middlesbrough in a bid to get a deal tied up.

He moved from Valencia for £2m last year and played 26 games for Middlesbrough. A season-long loan with an option to buy is the likeliest scenario.

Marten de Roon is one of Middlesbrough’s hottest properties this summer and there is now a link with Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho is said to have been impressed with the Dutchman’s performances in his first season in the Premier League and is looking to bolster his midfield options. De Roon, who cost Boro £12m, could command a fee of double that.

SUNDERLAND

What a situation at the Stadium of Light. Another day brings more questions than answers.

Ellis Short’s attempts to sell the club have not brought a satisfactory conclusion just yet, so the wait goes on for a new manager who can make transfer decisions.

Jurgen Klinsmann is the latest manager to distance himself from the job, with Sunderland’s players in need of a lift early on after they return to the training ground.

As things stand Fabio Borini is expected back at the Academy of Light on Thursday, but he is nearing a return to Italy with Lazio.

Celtic, though, have retained an interest and are still contemplating a late move to try to get a £6m deal done. That would see Borini work under Brendan Rodgers’ guidance again, having previously worked with him at Chelsea, Swansea and Liverpool.

Sunderland are being heavily linked with a move for Newcastle striker Daryl Murphy.

The Irishman, who was part of the last Sunderland squad to get promoted in 2007, could be leaving St James’ Park and still enjoys living in the North-East.

It is difficult to imagine any deal taking place, though, until a new manager has been appointed.

OTHER TRANSFERS

Liverpool have apparently enquired about Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after talks over extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium stalled.

The 23-year-old has only 12 months left to run on his contract and Liverpool could take advantage of the delay in signing a new deal by swooping for the £25m-rated England international.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is also attracting the attention of Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.

Staying in Liverpool and the Reds will have to part with an eye-watering £70m if they want to land RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita.

The Guinea international is keen on a move to Anfield after starring in his debut season in the Bundesliga.

Keita is seen as the all-action midfielder Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp craves, but the hefty transfer fee may preclude the Merseysiders from following up their interest, having already spent nearly £35m on Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah last week.

Elsewhere, Manchester United are optimistic they will be able to bring Nemanja Matic to Old Trafford - but the Serbian is only manager Jose Mourinho's third choice midfield target.

Mourinho had been eyeing Tottenham's Eric Dier and Radja Nainggolan of Roma, but, with United unable to make headway, it seems Matic is the most viable option.